Acne Treatments

Acne is a problem for many people. For some, the simple use of over-the-counter treatments is effective, but for others, the problem is more serious. And it isn’t just teenagers who suffer from moderate acne, people in their 20s, 30s, and beyond can suffer. Estimates say that as many as 30 percent of adult women and 20 percent of adult men up to 60 years of age can have problems with acne.

If over-the-counter treatments just aren’t enough for your acne, it’s time to talk to an expert. Here at Dermatology Associates P.C., we have options that can help your moderately inflamed acne. One of our most successful treatments is a BLU-U photodynamic therapy (PDTA). This treatment, sometimes coupled with prescription topical Levulan, could be the answer you have been seeking.

BLU-U PDTA is a way to treat acne that doesn’t involve drugs or antibiotics. This light therapy works by killing the bacteria in your skin that causes acne to develop. The treatment itself is very simple and it’s done right here in our office under the guidance and care of one of our dermatology professionals.

When you come in for your treatment, you will sit in a chair that holds your face close to the BLU-U light for a short period of time, once or twice a week. Most sessions last about 17 minutes, and the full course of treatment runs five weeks, on average. Best of all, the treatment is not hot and it is not painful. You just sit and relax in your chair while the light does its work. After several treatments, you will notice your acne improving and your skin looking better and better with each session.

BLU-U is not a laser treatment, and the light used does not emit potentially harmful ultraviolet rays. This is a fluorescent light treatment that can be safely used wherever acne is a concern for you, whether that is your face, chest or back.

If you suffer from minimally to moderately severe acne, the combination of BLU-U therapy plus topical Levulan may be of help.

Levulan is applied directly to the affected skin. The medication in the treatment is absorbed by the cells that cause acne and then converted to a light-sensitive chemical. When those cells are then exposed to the BLU-U light treatment the cells are able to be destroyed. The process is easy and normally takes only two treatments over two office visits in less than 24 hours.

There is very little downtime following treatment, though you will be advised to avoid exposure to sunlight for 40 hours (or slightly longer, at the advice of your dermatologist). And there has been no scarring reported. What you get is clearer skin and less worry, all from this simple, in-office procedure.

For more information about how we can help you treat acne, call our office today to set up a consultation appointment.